Time Out Kids editors

When it comes time to plan an epic bash, you have to go big or go home. The best kids' party entertainment in NYC will ensure that your little one's celebration is the talk of the town. Whether your birthday star is thinking about rocking out with a fun musician or is dying to channel Harry Houdini with a few magic tricks, we have plenty ideas to help devise the perfect plan.  Once you've scoped out the city's coolest kids' birthday party places, decided on the most delicious birthday cupcakes or birthday cakes, you need to make sure the activity options are on point (after all, you don't want anyone to experience the birthday blues). Illusions, tricks, crafts, tunes—festivities abound! RECOMMENDED: Kids' birthday party ideas Blow up those balloons, stuff the goody bags and get ready for an awesome few hours. New York's best kids' birthday party entertainment choices will have your youngster ready to turn a year older. 

If you have a young circus fan at home, you may want to consider hiring a clown for your child's next birthday party. In addition to coming dressed up wearing brightly-colored wigs and red noses, these party entertainers also make balloon animals, offer face painting and perform magic tricks. And, most of all, they'll make your little one—and her pals—laugh.RECOMMENDED: All party entertainers in New York CityCrazy Daisy Clowns The eponymous funny lady and her friends perform one-hour shows for kids ages three to nine featuring magic, games, balloon animals and—what else?—comedy. Face painting is included in the 90-minute package. Starts at $150 for one hour (718-278-4871, crazydaisyclowns.com)Confetti Clowns & Characters This family-owned clowning company offers face painting, balloon twisting and games, as well as lots of laughs. Choose from myriad themed parties. $185 and up (917-579-0867, confetticlowns.com) Daisy Doodle A full-time professional performer and children’s entertainer, Daisy Doodle offers a variety of party options including magic shows, dance parties, toddler shows, balloon twisting, face painting, crafts and holiday entertainment. $350 and up for two hours (212-501-4828, daisydoodle.com)Looney Louie This father of two performs a comic and highly interactive magic show with music, juggling and other tricks. After leading a chorus of "Happy Birthday," he makes balloon animals for all of the guests. When not entertaining at parties, he brightens the lives of s

NYC's sports camp programs will keep your junior athletes active once summer starts. Grab the kneepads, lace up those sneakers and take your pick from traditional selections such as baseball camp programs and basketball camps to the avant-garde (think Ringling Brothers tricks). RECOMMENDED: Full guide to summer camps in NYC Once you've finished mapping out the best things to do with kids when the warmer months hit, make sure you take a look at the camp selections and help your kiddos hone their skills on the court or field. These sports camp programs are likely to fill up quickly, so don't miss out!

Well hello there! Have we met? Time Out New York Kids is your ultimate guide to New York's coolest family events and activities, and we're here to help you make the most of your city. Did we mention that the magazine is now FREE as of February 2019? We're pretty excited about it too. Where can I find Time Out New York Kids magazine? Look for our quarterly magazine at schools, book stores including NYC Barnes & Noble locations, libraries and toy stores. You may also read it for free here. You can also e-mail TOKidsDist@timeout.com to find a pick-up location near you, or to request copies of a specific issue. Want us to come to you? Sign up for the newsletter so you can get insider deets on the best things to do with kids!  Time Out New York Kids caters to local parents in the five boroughs and visiting families alike, offering tips on the sweetest events (including free events), exhibits, screenings, family fests and more—even cheap family vacations from NYC, spectacular places to dine with the younger set and epic local experiences to book right now! We also keep you in the know with local news regarding NYC schools and family life, fleeting freebies, new attractions and more to make sure you know what's up around town and are the first of your friends to be talking about it. Oh, and be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter too!    

When you're looking for a summer day camp for your city-dwelling child that has all the outdoor charm of a sleepaway camp, sign her up for a commuter camp. This kind of summer day camp lets your child experience all the things sleepaway camps offer—think sailing, canoeing, swimming and hiking, plus lots of fresh air and green grass—without having to leave one's family for weeks at a time. Not all commuter camps are alike either: Whether you're child is into creative arts like cartooning and jewelry making or farming the land and caring for animals, you'll find there's a camp on our list that fits the bill. RECOMMENDED: Summer camps for kids

Soho's first-ever library started out as the Hawley & Hoops chocolate factory in the 1800s. Today, the building's exposed brick walls, cast-iron columns and quirks like a mysterious vault door give the branch, which opened in 2007 after a three-year makeover, a strong sense of the neighborhood's industrial history—and loads of cutting-edge design elements. In the children's room, touches like subtle artificial lighting on the brick walls outside the windows keep the below-grade space from feeling in any way dungeony. The kids' programming is also top-notch: In addition to after-school crafts and morning story-times for babies (Tue 10:30, 11:30am) and toddlers (Thu 10:30am), the library hosts R.E.A.D. with Mudge—a program, named after Cynthia Rylant's beloved Henry and Mudge books, where kids ages five and up read to a service dog. 10 Jersey St between Lafayette and Mulberry Sts (212-966-3424, nypl.org).

The first new children's room in the main branch in 30-plus years opened in 2008 in response to the closing of the city's main children's library, midtown's Donnell Library Center. Informally divided into fiction, nonfiction and picture-book sections, the space is like a big living room; the capacious carpeted spot on the western end is used for storytelling. Kids big and small also get a kick out of the Pooh room, wallpapered with renderings of the Hundred Acre Wood. Inside, you'll find a glass case containing Christopher Robin Milne's vintage stuffed animals, the inspiration behind his dad's Winnie the Pooh books. The library has a good selection of those, too. Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Fifth Ave at 42nd St, ground floor, room 84 (212-621-0208, nypl.org).

Hungry? Family style Italian spots in NYC are here to embrace the culture's favorite activity: eating.  Make your ancestors proud with a visit to fun restaurants that encourage splitting dishes. Patrizia's, Carmine's, La Mela, are among the go-to family style Italian NYC restaurants, but you're going to want to explore  New York pizza for families while you're out and about. Everything's delizioso! RECOMMENDED: Full list of the 50 best family restaurants in NYC If you have a few picky eaters on your hands or your littles can't quite find family dinner ideas that excite them, all you need to do is make a reservation. Trust us—one visit to the beloved family style Italian restaurants NYC has to offer will take "I don't like it" right out of children's vocabulary. Mangiare, everyone! 

Hungry? Busy? This one's for you. Explore our favorite quick-and-easy meal kit delivery options for families, including picks like Martha & Marley Spoon, Plated, HelloFresh, Purple Carrot and other companies that have delicious meals most kids will actually eat. There's quite a selection here: Everything from family plan-based meals that have a little something for everyone, meal plans that cater only to kids and everything in between—including options for those with dietary restrictions and additional offerings like wine subscription services for the parents! While you're at it, don't forget to peep our guides to the best recipes for kids from local resturants, these spectacular family dinner ideas (for when you have a little more time on your hands) and the best brunch NYC has to offer for your next lazy Sunday.

Columbus might've made his journey in 1492, but now it's 2018 and you need to pinpoint the best things to do on Columbus Day for kids. Fortunately, NYC has plenty of events and activities taking place so the whole family can truly soak up that extra day off from work and school.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Columbus Day for kids If you're not heading to Fifth Ave for the parade, the additional 24 hours are a great time to explore the best things to do in fall. Don't forget to get into the spooky spirit with these scary movies for kids and Halloween treats. Why not use this time to plan a great costume, too? How will you spend the long weekend with your crew? Regardless of what you choose, enjoy the little breather. 

If your kiddos are looking to make a splash on stage, help them land the part of their dreams with these acting classes for kids. Stars in the making will learn what it takes to transform themselves on stage and immerse themselves in a character. Hey, if you're going to learn about theater—at any age—what better place to do so than NYC? Of course, acting classes in NYC are but one option. Don't forget to look into dance classes for kids and music lessons for kids. Naturally, to make sure your youngsters get all the inspiration they need, take a look at these Broadway shows for kids. 

When it comes to eating as a family, what could be better than the food that has graced American tables for decades? So many family restaurants in New York are celebrating time-honored favorites by adding a unique touch to classic recipes. Kids will dig in to New American fare including everything from elevated burgers and hot dogs at The Farm on Adderley to Grandma-approved dishes like matzo ball soup at Bubby's and Junior's.RECOMMENDED: Full list of the 50 best family restaurants in NYC

Looking for amazing things to do with kids in NYC in 2019? Look no further than our extensive list of cool new exhibits (including a brand new dinosaur exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History!), new family attractions, performances, kids' movies in theaters in 2019 and other amazing stuff to keep your family entertained! Photograph: Courtesy Craig Chesek 1. “T. rex: The Ultimate Predator” Think about it: Has there been a creature in existence more powerful than the T. Rex? The Museum of Natural History’s new special exhibit will explore all there is to know about our favorite dinosaur species...which will make you feel pretty grateful that we’re not simultaneously roaming the earth with these bad boys. Member preview Mar 8, opens Mar 11. BUY TICKETS *Admission Plus One ticket required* 2. Frozen 2  Bundle up! Our favorite ice queen and her little sis are making their grand return to the silver screen. After the wild success of Frozen, it’s only right that fans are given another taste of the 2013 sensation. Disney has yet to reveal the sequel’s plot, but Frozen 2 will certainly provide ample opportunities for your little princesses to sing along. Will we discover a new—and dare we say it—catchier song than “Let It Go”? We’ll have to wait until Nov 22 to find out. Check out other 2019 kids’ movies here.  3. “Tolkien: Maker of Middle Earth” Bookworms will not want to miss The Morgan Library’s tribute to J.R.R. Tolkien. Visitors will be able to get a first-hand look

The buzzword “mindfulness” is gaining traction lately, but any form of meditation or self-care for busy moms can seem like a luxury. “Moms are usually on the go physically and mentally, and their minds are always racing,” Nathalie Birotte, a practitioner with Brooklyn Meditation, tells Time Out New York Kids. “Thinking about practicing mindfulness is usually not even on their to-do list.” However, experts say the popular form of meditation is particularly beneficial for parents. “If a child is throwing a tantrum, it can be incredibly dis-regulating for mom, leaving her feeling like she needs a tantrum of her own,” Emily Sussell, founder of Private Yoga Brooklyn adds. “But if mom has a mindfulness practice, she’s equipped with an advanced tool for self-regulation.” Mindfulness generally entails focusing on a moment. It is practiced through exercises such as paying attention solely to one’s breathing, or to one specific sense, such as hearing or touching. Jackie Stewart, a teacher with MNDFL, which has meditation studios in Manhattan and Brooklyn, adds that “it’s not about being calm or happy necessarily, but about being able to notice what’s going on in the present moment without judgment.” We've asked these meditation gurus for tips on how moms can find time to practice mindfulness while caring for both babies and older children: Zen and the art of the diaper change “Narrating what you’re doing can be a great way to engage with your baby in a moment-to-moment way, plus they g

If your New Year's resolution was to have way more fun in 2017, you've come to the right place. 17 fantastic openings, releases and experiences are coming your way in a hurry, and here's your guide to them all! (And don't forget to see our guide to things you can't miss in 2018, too!) Your kids will love exciting adventures at "National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey," where you'll dive into a simulated ocean experience, or great stuff like Gulliver's Gate, a 50,000-square-foot attraction full of miniatures. Did we mention Nitehawk Prospect Park is opening in 2017 too? There's so much to get excited about! Read on for the full details (and to be the most "in the know" parent on the block). For more fun activities, try our favorite 101 things to do with kids in NYC and the best free activities for kids, too. 1. "National Geographic ENCOUNTER: Ocean Odyssey" The great minds of National Geographic Partners, award- winning special effects teams, composers, designers and sound engineers are behind Times Square’s upcoming permanent multisensory experience for families. Visitors travel through a 60,000-square- foot maze of screens to virtually visit the Salomon Islands, the Pacific Ocean and the California coast (among other places), seeing humpback whales, sea lions, great white sharks and Humboldt squid along the way. 226 W 44th St (natgeoencounter.com). Opens in fall, date TBA. All ages. 2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Enter a world of pure imagination when this musica

There's no doubt many folks have changed the way they shop for the holidays, especially with services like Amazon Prime at their disposal (now more than ten years old!). Major toy retailers are definitely feeling it, especially some of the country's most iconic. According to Bloomberg, in an effort to combat this season's loss in toy sales (down by about 15% in the US), Toys "R" Us will reportedly close 100 stores or more. The company, which filed for bankruptcy back in September, is also allegedly being blamed by toymakers like Hasbro and Mattel as their own stock values decline. Toys "R" Us is a leading retailer for both brands. We're still holding out hope that Toys "R" Us might open a new brick and mortar location in NYC just like F.A.O. Schwarz did! Sign up to receive great Time Out New York Kids deals in your inbox each day.​

Awww! Squishable, a popular NYC-based indie toy company, has opened a super cute pop-up shop in SoHo just in time for the holidays. Specializing in huggable critters (and other things, like anthropomorphic eggplants, cupcakes, corgis, avocados and even unicorns, to name a few), this heavenly kids' shop offers wall-to-wall stuffed animals: every kid's dream, pretty much. Some of the designs are even crowdsourced from Squishable's fanbase, and there are a handful of exclusive products that are only being sold in-store. Photograph: Squishable You'll find all sizes of Squishables in the pop-up, including backpack clips and medium and large-sized creatures. Some of the most popular picks of the moment include: cupcakes, baby sloths, pineapples, cinnamon buns, octopuses and donuts! Don't miss the "green carpet" Instagram booth to document your experience (#squishstore) Photograph: Squishable P.S. Head over on Dec 17 at 4pm to meet a holiday artist and some of the plushie designers, and enjoy some free cookies. For more holiday inspiration, see our favorite stocking stuffers for kids, Christmas gifts for kids and Christmas gifts for tweens. Squishable pop-up: 430 W Broadway (between Prince and Spring). Daily through Dec 22 11am–8pm (800-490-9784, squishable.com). Sign up to receive great Time Out New York Kids deals in your inbox each day.​

Treat little Star Wars fans to the opportunity of a lifetime: A class where they can make "real" lightsabers and use The Force! Next month, the Liberty Science Center is hosting a Build a Saber in the MakerLab class for kids held over three sessions. Participants will build a glowing saber with the help of vacuformers, 3D printers and other super cool in-house programming tools with the help of MakerLab instructors. To make things feel even more authentic, you'll also walk away with some tips on how to use your brand new creation in saber combat. Woohoo! Build a Saber in the MakerLab will be held on Dec 2, 9 and 16 10am–12:30pm. To book, call 201-253-1310 or email sales@lsc.org. The class is open to anyone ages 10 and up (even adults)! For more educational fun, explore our favorite children's museums, book stores and free activities for kids.

If you're on the hunt for a fresh spot that offers great kids' classes, you'll be happy to hear that there's a new place for your mini-crew to channel some of their pent-up energy this summer. Bring your jumpers, climbers and explorers to Park Slope's newest kid-hangout, My Gym Park Slope, which is projected to open sometime in early May. Geared towards kids ages six weeks through 10 years, My Gym seems like a leap beyond your usual indoor play spaces, largely in the class department. With fifteen different class options to suit specific age groups—including little ones and ultra-active youngsters—there's certainly something for everyone. All classes focus in on fine and gross motor skills and incorporating things like games, music, gymnastics, rides, dance, relays and more to keep 'em moving It also looks like My Gym will be a new birthday party spot as well. There are three party tier options (running you $499–$849) that incorporate use of the space and decor and scale up to include food and drink, with most parties lasting between 1.5 and two hours. We look forward to seeing what the space looks like when it finally opens!  My Gym Park Slope is located at 367 5th Ave, Park Slope, Brooklyn. Want more? Sign up here to get Time Out New York Kids' newsletter!

Dinosaur fans big and small will rejoice in a visit to "Jurassic World: The Exhibition," which is just 2.5 hours from NYC (and perfect for a weekend trip with the kiddos). You'll meet a towering Brachiosaurus, ferocious Velociraptor and even a Tyrannosaurus rex as you explore, and the experience was created in collaboration with revered paleontologist Jack Horner and Creature Technology Company (the folks behind Walking with Dinosaurs). Some of the dinos are over 24 feet tall! Expect cool educational elements so kids can learn about the humungous creatures as they explore the exhibit. There's also plenty more to see at the Franklin Institute too—including a planetarium, virtual reality experiences and "Robot Revolution," an collection of robots from around the world.  For more dinosaur-themed fun, catch the last screenings in Metrograph's dinosaur movie marathon. Want more? Sign up here to get our newsletter!

Expecting in 2017? Experts are saying that these baby names should top your short list this year. Looking back on our list of the most popular baby names of 2016, we feel like people tend to keep things safe or go wayyy out there; these picks, for the most part, seem to find a good balance between unique and (though we'll admit—some are a little more hipstery than we'd go for). Looking for more? Browse our picks for the most New York-centric baby names, nearly extinct baby names and actually hipster baby names, if that's your style. Here's a sampling of those featured in Today.com's list via Nameberry, a data-based website focused on baby name trends (see their full article for the entire list).  1. Astrid 2. Arrow 3. Baxter 4. Celeste 5. Clark 6. Daisy 7. Eliza 8. Esther 9. Felicity 10. Felix 11. Gus 12. Indigo 13. Lula 14. Marguerite 15. Monty 16. Remy 17. Sage 18. Sayer 19. Tallulah 20. Wilder

What's better than free activities for kids and stellar museums for children? Not much! Madame Tussauds agrees that free stuff for kids is pretty great too—that's why they're launching a new KIDS GO FREE program from now through October 29, 2016. Here's the scoop: - From now through Oct 29, kids ages 12 and under will get free museum admission when accompanied by an adult ticket holder. - Two kids (max) are allowed to attend for free with a single adult ticket holder. - Kids will get the same ticket package as the adult that they attend with (yippee!) - Add-ons are subject to an extra upgrade charge ("Ghostbusters: Dimension," Marvel 4D and others)—see Madame Tussauds' website for full details and ticket pricing. The verdict? Move quickly! It's definitely time for a visit, and you'll be saving a ton of dough. Grab tickets ahead of time here or at the door!    

CATS is back on Broadway, and we're happy to announce that we'll be hanging out in front of Neil Simon Theatre (250 W 52nd St) with Tattly to ensure New Yorkers (and those visiting!) get in the spirit. Tattly will be applying free feline temporary tats to anyone who drops by the theater that wants one, and there will also be face-painters present to transform your little ones into cats! Well, their faces at least... Meet up with us at the following times (you don't need a ticket to take part in the festivities—they're totally free)! August 6 noon–2pm August 7 11:30am–1:30pm August 13 noon–2pm August 20 noon–2pm August 27 noon–2pm See you there! For more info on Broadway's current offerings, check out Time Out New York's list of Broadway shows in NYC. To buy tickets to CATS, click here.

Atlantic Terminal’s Chuck E. Cheese just got a game-changing stamp of approval: in the next three months, they’ll have a license to serve wine and beer! Of age Chuck E. Cheese patrons will be able to enjoy frosty domestic brews like Bud or Miller plus a few specialty and craft beers—a welcome gift for many parents committing to the hotspot's high decibel soundtrack of pumped up kids for an hour or two. Between 75 and 80 percent of Chuck E. Cheese locations currently serve beer and wine, and Atlantic Terminal’s Chuck E. Cheese formerly held a liquor license before stopping in 2006 due to low sales. The company is allegedly hoping to appeal to a younger crowd of parents with the new development. What do you think? Will Chuck E. Cheese’s liquor license be a good move for Atlantic Terminal? Be sure to check out our other exciting indoor activities for kids and other kid-friendly bars too.